AC Milan set to end dry patch at home against Juventus

 The Devils in mid-week remained on pace to retain their Champions League title, securing qualification to the knock-out phase with one game left through a 1-1 draw at Benfica.

 But their pace has not been as steady in the home league, where they languish in mid-table, 11 points behind leading cross-town rivals Inter Milan.

 Most embarrassing for Milan is that they are the only Serie A team without a home win as all four victories came on the road.

 "It will be a complicated game (late Saturday) because Juve are in great form," said coach Carlo Ancelotti. "For us it's a crucial game. We could suffer a little physically as we must consider the efforts of (the mid-week game)."

   The classic tie with Juve, however, is just the beginning of a tough December for Milan, who are to play one more Champions League qualifier, fly to Japan for the FIFA Club World Cup and then tackle Inter on December 23 before a three-week winter break.

 Juve, by contrast, have only the Serie A to worry about and have been doing surprisingly well after a season in the lower division in which which they were sentenced to play for match-rigging.

 After 13 games, the white-blacks lie second on 25 points along with Udinese and Roma. The Rome side and Inter, though, have a game in hand, as do Milan.

 Fiorentina have 24 points when they welcome Inter Sunday. The Florence side were due to play a UEFA Cup affair at AEK Athens Thursda. Inter played Tuesday, advancing in the Champions League through 3-0 win over Fenerbahce.

 A big 4-1 win at Dynamo Kiev pushed Roma ahead in the elite continental tournament ahead of a home affair with Udinese.

 A good show is also expected in Bergamo between Atalanta and promoted Napoli, both well positioned on 18 points but with few fans to watch them as police limited access to the game following hooligan riots.

 The same limitations regard fans of Inter, Juve, Genoa and Palermo, who cannot follow their teams in away games.

 Only Catania fans will thus attend the Sicily derby with Palermo, who this week welcomed back coach Francesco Guidolin for a fourth stint.

 Struggling Empoli also have a new coach as Alberto Malesani replaced Luigi Cagni before an away game to Parma.

 Sampdoria welcome Reggina, Cagliari host Livorno, lying last next to Siena, who take on a Lazio. A late Sunday game closes the weekend when Torino and Genoa, both on 14 points, face off in Turin.

DPA